Safeguarding Recovery in College and Beyond: Supporting the Transition to Emerging Adulthood

The transition to college represents a critical developmental period marked by increased independence, shifting routines, changes in food access and eating environments, and reduced caregiver oversight. For adolescents and young adults with eating disorders, these changes may introduce new vulnerabilities to symptom recurrence or relapse, particularly when recovery is incomplete, supports are withdrawn too quickly, or early warning signs go unrecognized. Eating disorder professionals play an important role in helping patients and families determine readiness for college, anticipate potential challenges, and develop individualized plans that balance increasing autonomy with the level of support necessary to protect recovery. Dietitians are particularly well-positioned to assess whether patients can reliably meet nutritional needs across changing environments/routines and to identify subtle changes in eating behavior. This presentation will examine why the transition to college can represent a period of heightened vulnerability for individuals with eating disorders and identify clinical indicators of both readiness and risk. Participants will learn practical, evidence-informed strategies for preparing patients for the nutritional, social, environmental, and developmental demands of college while maintaining appropriate recovery supports. The presentation will further explore the transition from caregiver-supported recovery toward greater patient autonomy using a collaborative, patient-centered model focused on establishing clear expectations, monitoring plans, relapse prevention strategies, and thresholds for increasing support when concerns emerge.

Dr. Kelly Bhatnagar (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist who has specialized in the scientific study and treatment of eating disorders and related psychological conditions for over 20 years. Dr. Bhatnagar completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She then completed a clinical residency and postdoctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Bhatnagar is the co-founder of the Center for Emotional Wellness, which is a multidisciplinary group therapy practice that offers research-supported treatment for youth and adults with eating disorders and body image concerns. She is also the founder of Eating & Psychological Science Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to bridging research-practice gaps and promoting dissemination of evidence-based interventions. Dr. Bhatnagar is certified by the Training Institute for Child & Adolescent Eating Disorders to deliver Maudsley Family Based Treatment to adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders. Dr. Bhatnagar is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and a Consulting Psychologist at Laurel School for Girls. Her work has been published and cited in peer-reviewed journals and books, and she presents regularly at national and international conferences and scientific meetings. Dr. Bhatnagar serves on the Expert Advisory Panel for Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (F.E.A.S.T.) organization. Dr. Bhatnagar is a recent Past President of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) and in 2018, she was named a Fellow in the AED, an honor given in recognition of her “distinguished contributions to the field of eating disorders.”